Derek Smith's third-period goal proved to be the game winner as the Binghamton Senators skated by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-1, Sunday at Arena at Harbor Yard. Kyle Okposo and the Sound Tigers dropped their second game in three days to Binghamton.

Brian Elliott was strong in goal for the Senators, stopping 23 of 24 shots. Joey MacDonald picked up the loss with 21 saves.

"If you can't score, you can't win," Jack Capuano told Newyorkislanders.com after the game. "You have to go to the paint and sacrifice your body to go to the scoring areas. We pass up opportunities because we think we need to make tic-tac-toe passes."

Playing in his third pro hockey game, Islanders 2006 first round draft pick Okposo was held scoreless, but took a number of hard shots in the third with the team down.

"Overall, I thought Kyle's weekend was good," said Capuano. "But tonight you saw for the first time that his time and space was limited. But he'll adjust to that. I give him credit for taking on three games in three nights to begin his pro career."

"I feel like I'm right in the swing of things," Okposo told Newyorkislanders.com. "I finally took my first big hit. It was tiring playing three in three, but it was fun out there. You have to bear down mentally."

Binghamton got on the board first with a power play tally at 3:36 of the second period. The puck was won back to defenseman Lawrence Nycholat, who ripped a shot past Joey MacDonald.

The action picked up in the third period. Early in the frame, Drew Fata caught Alexander Nikulin with his head down with a monstrous open-ice hit. Fata was then challenged by Matt Carkner, as the two duked it out.

"I thought Drew had a hard game and stuck up for himself," said Capuano.

The Sound Tigers evened the score shortly afterwards when Matt Keith, playing in his fourth game as a Sound Tiger jammed home a wrap-around on the backhand.

But Binghamton regained the lead on Derek Smith's slapper with 8:11 to play in the third period. Shawn Weller added an empty-net goal.

Five Stars of the Game:

1. Brian Elliott: Withstood the Sound Tigers attack 2. Derek Smith: Scored his first of the season for the game-winner 3. Matt Keith: A strong move on the lone Sound Tigers goal 4. Greg Mauldin: Two assists, following up on his two-goal performance on Friday 5. Jeremy Colliton: Jeremy had a strong game," said Ken Morrow. "He worked hard on the penalty kill, seeing more ice time with some players out. Jeremy was noticeable out there."

Ken Morrow's Take:

"It was a little sluggish, but that was to be expected considering it's the third game in three nights for both teams," said Morrow, the Islanders' director of pro scouting. "What has impressed me most about Kyle is not just his ability to score, but to make the little plays; ones that are not obvious. In only his third pro game, he is very poised and looks like a polished veteran. I give him credit for that."

Slapshots: With Frans Nielsen playing the point on the top power play unit, Kyle Okposo took some draws on the man-advantage…Frans Nielsen, Matthew Spiller and Jeremy Colliton were Bridgeport's alternate captains…Jeremy Colliton turned 23 today… The Sound Tigers sported camouflage jerseys in honor of Armed Forces Day…Five Sound Tiger forwards were on the ice in the game's final minute.